CREAF

CREAF is seeking for a postdoctoral researcher to work in the wildE project (Climate-smart rewilding: ecological restoration for climate change mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity support in Europe), with Grant Agreement nr. 101081251 funded by the European Commission. WildE's goal is to develop the knowledge needed for a "climately intelligent renaturalisation" in Europe, as a solution based on nature that stimulates the natural capacity of European ecosystems for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and support for biodiversity.

CREAF is seeking an experienced spatial modeller with a strong background in biodiversity spatial modelling to work, together with other European institutions, on building novel future projections of the effects of rewilding strategies in Europe. The CREAF task will evaluate the future spatial dynamics of bird distributions and derived indicators, together with other taxa and ecosystem services assessed by other members of the international consortia. Future trajectories comparing rewilding (recovering of natural processes at the system level) and non-rewilding scenarios will explore IPBES based Nature Positive Futures to assess trade-offs between biodiversity, ecosystem services and climate mitigation and adaption strategies. Together with EBCC (European Bird Census Council), the CREAF team is leading on the development of bird-based indicators that bridge the gap between informing current global change impacts and the evaluation of future scenarios of change allowing the assessment of current socio-political decisions.

A full-time contract (37,5 hours/week) is offered with planned incorporation in October 2023, and a duration of 24 month. The contract will be linked to the budgets of the project described above ("scientific-technical activities", according to Law 14/2011). The salary offered is between €31,692.86 and €36,608.91 gross per year, depending on the candidate’s experience.

TASKS:

- Contribute to specific activities of the CREAF team related to the wildE project.
- Develop state of the art Species Distribution Models (SDMs) using European large scale bird monitoring datasets for use in future projections.
- Integration of biodiversity projections across taxa, development of specific indicators and evaluation of trade-offs between environmental and climate change mitigation and adaption impacts.
- Collaborate with other researchers in the team and external partners to link developed biodiversity spatial products to landscape and climate scenarios of future change.
- High quality scientific outputs in the form of journal publications and contribution to relevant policy reports.
- Networking with other national and international groups in the evaluation of rewilding and restoration scenarios.
- High quality scientific outputs in the form of journal publications and contribution to relevant policy reports.

REQUIREMENTS:

- A completed PhD on a topic related to the current project description (biodiversity/global change modelling).
- Excellent scientific publication record.
- Expertise in biodiversity modelling projects and biodiversity research.
- Proven expertise in spatial modelling and Species Distribution Model development. 
- Demonstrated experience in advanced statistic programming languages (such as R).
- Contrasted capacity to lead work and team up with other researchers.
- Previous experience in project management and leadership in a biodiversity conservation context.
- Advanced knowledge of English.

ASSESSABLE CONDITIONS:

- Experience in working alongside and/or coordinating large research groups, preferably in an international environment.
- Experience in working with future scenarios of biodiversity or climate change research.
- Experience in team coordination and management in an academic/professional environment.
- Candidates who have a recognized disability and accredited equal to or greater than 33% will be prioritized, if the disability is compatible with the proper performance of the job.

SELECTION PROCES AND CRITERIA:

1. Admission of candidates: applicants must submit a curriculum vitae, a cover letter (maximum 500 words) and the questionnaire attached to the offer (filled), by e-mail to laboral@creaf.uab.cat, until September 11st, 2023, indicating the reference code of the offer. Applications referred to another portal, other than CREAF job openings section and the instructions included in this, will not be accepted.
2. Pre-selection: determination of compliance with the minimum requirements of the offer.
3. Selection: assessment of the preselected candidates by scoring based on objective criteria.
4. Final decision: in case of finding the suitable person, the election will be formally communicated to him/her, and the identification of the chosen person will be published on CREAF job opening section.